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The joule (/ dʒ uː l / JOOL, or / dʒ aʊ l / JOWL; symbol: J) is the unit of energy in the International System of Units (SI). [1] In terms of SI base units, one joule corresponds to one kilogram-square metre per square second (1 J = 1 kg⋅m 2 ⋅s −2).
Energy is defined via work, so the SI unit of energy is the same as the unit of work – the joule (J), named in honour of James Prescott Joule [1] and his experiments on the mechanical equivalent of heat. In slightly more fundamental terms, 1 joule is equal to 1 newton metre and, in terms of SI base units
Energy; system unit code (alternative) symbol or abbrev. notes sample default conversion combinations SI: yottajoule: YJ YJ 1.0 YJ (2.8 × 10 17 kWh) zettajoule: ZJ ZJ 1.0 ZJ (2.8 × 10 14 kWh)
Symbol [1] Name of quantity Unit name Symbol Base units E energy: joule: J = C⋅V = W⋅s kg⋅m 2 ⋅s −2: Q electric charge: coulomb: C A⋅s I electric current: ampere
The watt (symbol: W) is the unit of power or radiant flux in the International System of Units (SI), equal to 1 joule per second or 1 kg⋅m 2 ⋅s −3. [1] [2] [3] It is used to quantify the rate of energy transfer.
It is also part of the United States customary units. [1] The SI unit for energy is the joule (J); one Btu equals about 1,055 J (varying within the range of 1,054–1,060 J depending on the specific definition of BTU; see below). While units of heat are often supplanted by energy units in scientific work, they are still used in some fields.
The joule is named after James Prescott Joule. As with every SI unit named for a person, its symbol starts with an upper case letter (J), but when written in full, it follows the rules for capitalisation of a common noun; i.e., joule becomes capitalised at the beginning of a sentence and in titles but is otherwise in lower case.
By dividing a particle's kinetic energy in electronvolts by the fundamental constant c (the speed of light), one can describe the particle's momentum in units of eV/c. [5] In natural units in which the fundamental velocity constant c is numerically 1, the c may informally be omitted to express momentum using the unit electronvolt.